Staff
Luke Avery, Development Officer
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Luke is responsible for communicating MHP's program goals and accomplishments to current and potential funders. He has been with MHP since 2002, first as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, and then as part of MHP's staff. Along with preparing funding requests and reports for corporate and private foundations, he leads the application process for MHP's collaborative technical assistance contracts with HUD and USDA Rural Development. These national, multi-year requests bring together partners from throughout the Upper Midwest and across the country. He also participates in the management of MHP's technology resources, and helps people remember what that random report from five years ago said, and figure out where it might be living after all these years. When he's not at MHP, he can be found enjoying the seasons in Como Park.
Sarah Bellefuil, Community Development Manager
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Sarah provides direct technical assistance and capacity building under the CHDO, HOME, McKinney-Vento, and rural development programs. She holds two HOME Program certifications: HOME Specialist—Regulations and HOME Specialist—Rental Housing Compliance. Previously, Sarah worked as a Planner responsible for housing development and redevelopment activities. When not at work, Sarah enjoys all the sights and sounds Minnesota has to offer.
Helena (Nellie) Bruce, Community Development Officer
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Nellie assists MHP’s Capacity Team in administrating and managing their much needed community development programming, including the Crisis Housing Fund and the Housing Institute. Nellie is a graduate of Macalester College, where she was given the opportunity to work with several local and international organizations on projects related to conflict, crisis management and low-income housing. When not at work, Nellie can be found at any of St. Paul’s great sea-shanty sing-a-longs or playing banjo in her family’s band.
Harlan Buckalew, Office & Program Associate
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As Program and Office Associate, Harlan provides administrative and program support to the MHP team, and serves as the main point of contact for incoming phone calls and questions. Harlan draws on administrative, human resource, and communication experience from farmers markets and music education programs. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Harlan has volunteer experience with Habitat for Humanity and local resource centers. On the weekends, you can find him enjoying a Minnesota State Park, exploring local record shops, and attending live music performances in the Twin Cities.
Barbara Dolan, Interim Community Development Director
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Barbara has over sixteen years’ in the housing industry. She comes to MHP with experience in delivering high-level project technical coordination, database management, financial management, training-event management, IT services and is a certified Housing Development Finance Professional and licensed real estate broker. Before joining MHP, she worked in out-state community action agencies managing single family homeownership programs and development. She also has experience in staff management, grant writing, and in coordinating strategies and providing support for local communities implementing affordable housing options. Barbara likes to spend her off hours with friends and family or curled up with a cup of tea and a good book.
Elizabeth Glidden, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Policy
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Elizabeth drives the organization's policy and programs toward outcomes that improve the quality, affordability and availability of housing in Minnesota and beyond. She is a public policy professional and lawyer with more than 25 years of experience. Elizabeth served as Council Member for the City of Minneapolis from 2006-17 and Council Vice President from 2013 to 2017, working a wide range of housing issues including advocacy for state and local affordable housing policies, improving the Section 8 program, leading historic designation processes for projects associated with our past public policies of segregation and racial covenants, and advising on community development. Prior to her service on the City Council, Elizabeth represented individuals as an employment and civil rights lawyer for more than 10 years. Elizabeth is a 2013 Bush Fellow, focusing her fellowship on race-conscious leadership development for local elected officials.
Kristina Gronquist, Finance & Human Resources Director
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Kristina is responsible for Finances and Human Resources. She joined MHP in August of 2014 and prior to that worked for ten years as Assistant General Manager at Eastside Food Cooperative. She also managed her own financial consulting practice and worked for the St. Paul Neighborhood Energy Consortium. Kristina is a founding member of the innovative Northeast Investment Cooperative and has a long history of advocating for social justice as a member of numerous organizations. When she's not at MHP, she can be found enjoying the farmers markets, independently owned restaurants, and the local jazz/blues scene.
Jill Henricksen, Community Development Officer
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Jill oversees contracts and compliance for MHP’s HUD & USDA technical assistance grants and also works with the Capacity Building team to provide technical assistance. She has over twenty years’ experience in the community development field. She comes to MHP with experience in managing supportive housing and housing development projects from single family to multi-family, including a mixed use transit oriented development, and home improvement lending programs. She worked as an Executive Director of a neighborhood-based CDC, managing fundraising, working with the Board of Directors, and coordinating strategic and community planning processes. Jill is a certified Housing Development Finance Professional and has worked with both private and public funds including CDBG, HOME, NSP, FHLB and SHP and GRH (now Housing Supports) for supportive housing. In her free time, she loves camping with her family in MN’s beautiful state parks and seeing live music.Anne Mavity, Executive Director
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Anne Mavity has 30 years of experience in affordable housing, capacity building and development. Among her varied experience, she has worked on a Congressional Subcommittee on housing and provided technical assistance and underwriting at the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH). Before MHP, she was director of new projects at Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative where she led development of several affordable housing projects in the Twin Cities as well as local and state advocacy efforts. While at Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, Mavity also organized hundreds of congregational and civic leaders to attend public hearings and help secure unanimous support from the Edina City Council for the city’s first supportive housing development.
Libby Murphy, Deputy Policy Director
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Libby supports the development of MHP’s state and federal policy platforms by advising on and developing policy, directing engagement efforts and securing stakeholder support for MHP initiatives, and directly lobbying elected officials. At MHP, Libby engages government, non-profit and business sectors to secure resources and advance policies that promote affordable housing development and preservation. Libby has a solid understanding of statewide housing issues and technical nuances of housing development. As the Homes for All MN (H4A) policy co-chair, she facilitates the process of adopting a statewide legislative agenda, coordinates advocacy efforts to promote the H4A agenda, and represents the coalition at the Minnesota Capitol.
Gabriela Norton, Research Associate
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Gabriela produces the content for MHP's research publications, focusing her analysis on emerging housing and demographic data and spatially analyzing trends through GIS. Gabriela is a graduate of Macalester College, who focused her studies in quantitatively and qualitatively analyzing the dynamics of neighborhood trends and community health and well-being. Gabriela is a die-hard Spurs fan, enjoys cooking (especially Mexican food!) and visiting family in San Antonio whenever possible.
Cherre' Palenius, Community Development Manager
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Cherre' has over three decades of experience working in the housing industry. As a certified HOME Program Specialist and Housing Development Finance Professional, Cherre' specializes in providing HUD-related technical assistance to promote single family and rental housing development and rehab. At her prior position working with the City of Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development Department (CPED) Cherre' provided technical assistance to promote the design of homebuyer programs, homeownership rehabilitation, and rental housing development. Cherre' enjoys working with diverse groups of individuals/organizations creating and implementing affordable housing programs for their communities. In her spare time, she enjoys most outdoor activities: gardening, camping, hiking, fishing and spending time with family and friends.
Luis Pereira, Economic Development Manager
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Luis provides direct technical assistance and capacity building with a focus on community economic development. He is an AICP-certified planner with the American Planning Association, a Housing Development Finance Professional, and has a certificate in program evaluation. He has worked as a local government planner in Minnesota and Tennessee, served as team lead for a Minnesota Housing Finance Agency single family community development program, and most recently served as Economic Development program manager for a neighborhood-based community development project supporting small and immigrant-owned businesses in Northwest Illinois. Outside work, Luis enjoys playing hand percussion and going running and biking with his wife.
Laura Proescholdt, Communications Associate
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Laura provides communications support for Minnesota Housing Partnership's community development, research, and policy and advocacy teams. When not conducting interviews, writing blog posts, or live tweeting an event, Laura enjoys playing the bass guitar, exploring local museums, and picnicking across Minneapolis.
Matt Reuland, Finance & Grants Administrator
Matt provides administrative support for several staff teams to strengthen the performance of MHP and its mission. In addition to financial bookkeeping, Matt is also the acting grant manager. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Matt has a diverse background of volunteer service experience, ranging from the National Park Service to Habitat for Humanity. Outside of the office, Matt enjoys rock climbing, biking and frolfing.
Carolyn Szczepanski, Director of Research & Communications
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Carolyn is responsible for development and dissemination of MHP’s communications. Prior to MHP, Carolyn was a reporter for nearly a decade before transitioning to the nonprofit sector, where she served as the Communications Director for two national advocacy organizations focused on active transportation and helped to launch several programs focused on advancing equity and diversity in bicycling. New to Minnesota, she enjoys (not surprisingly!) riding her bike and otherwise exploring the outdoor amenities of the Twin Cities.
Becky Watson, Membership & Development Officer
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As Membership and Development Officer, Becky has the privilege of working with companies and individuals who generously support our work strengthening communities through affordable housing. An art historian turned non-profit fundraiser with a passion for community, she has 20+ years working in the non-profit sector. She has earned the Certified Fund Raising Executive designation and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. When not working, you can find Becky with her 3 teenage kids, socializing with friends, reading or spending time exploring our community.
Kelly Zelenka, Community Development Director
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Kelly leads and manages MHP’s nationally recognized technical assistance work in rural and Native communities in Minnesota and across the United States. After building an impressive career in Seattle, Kelly returned to her deep roots in rural Minnesota, where she was born and raised. Having worked in both urban and rural communities, Zelenka brings more than 25 years of experience in the housing and services sector, with a demonstrated track record of increasing the amount and availability of housing and service resources by conducting and managing small and large scale technical assistance, training and capacity building initiatives with organizations and communities, and leading systems-change efforts and grantmaking initiatives that test emerging best practices. Before joining MHP, Kelly lead the day-to-day operations, budget and 65 staff for the Seattle Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher program, which serves more than 10,000 households annually. Before that she directed several programs at Building Changes — a State and HUD-funded technical assistance provider working to bring together government, philanthropic and nonprofits to address family and youth homelessness in Washington state.
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